23 Saturday May 2015
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
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BSNLCCWF expresses its thanks to the Central EPF Commissioner, who took initiative in directing BSNL Management to implement the EPF to the casual workers from 01-10-2000 retrospectively, on the request of BSNLCCWF. It should be made applicable to the contract workers also.
23 Saturday May 2015
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The capitalist way of converting full time work in to contract, casual and part-time has been on the increase. According to a report of the ‘World Employment and Social Outlook 2015’, a ILO body, more than 60% of the global work force are on short term contracts, informal jobs without any contract, self employed or in unpaid family jobs.
In India, both the earlier UPA Government and the present NDA government are also in the same tract. Almost 90% of the workers are in unorganised sector and the contract system is increasing instead of regular jobs in India. These workers are maximum exploited and even the existing labour laws are violated in their case.
The Central trade Unions have demanded that the contract workers should be paid a minimum wage of Rs. 15,000 a month. But the government has so far not accepted the same. It has got sufficient funds to waive taxes and penalties to the corporates coming to lakhs of crores of rupees. But in the case of the contract workers, they are silent. Of course, this is the government of the rich, for the rich and by the rich.
22 Friday May 2015
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
The recent orders issued by the BSNL Management on implementation of EPF clearly states that EPF should be implemented with retrospective effect from 01-10-2000 and the EPF should be started for contract workers, wherever it has not implemented so far. The parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and the Central EPF Commissioner have given clear direction to the BSNL Management on this issue.
The casual and contract workers and their union BSNLCCWF should immediately discuss the same with BSNLEU leaders in their place and take up the issue with the GM / field management. BSNLEU leaders are requested to take up the case with management and ensure that EPF is implemented to all employees.
The Management was compelled to issue strict orders because of the BSNLCCWF and BSNLEU taking up the matter with Standing Committee and EPF Commissioner. Kindly ensure that it is implemented with out delay. Any difficulty may be intimated to BSNLCCWF CHQ.
21 Thursday May 2015
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation has addressed a letter to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi informing him about the wage slavery of the BSNL Contract Workers in UP and especially in Varanasi, the constituency from which he has been elected. Only Rs. 1500 – 3000 are paid where as they are eligible at least about Rs. 7,000/- at the lowest. BSNLCCWF has requested the PM to look in to the matter and ensure implementation of minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc.
Will the Prime Minister or his Office have time to mete out justice to the hard working casual contract workers?
18 Monday May 2015
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU
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It is a great victory for the BSNLCCWF and the casual and contract workers! The Federation as well as BSNLEU has been demanding that for the casual and contract workers EPF should be implemented from at least 01-10-2000. After much efforts, the BSNL Management had implemented EPF for casual workers from 10-01-2011. In many places EPF was not implemented to the contract workers.
These along many other issues were taken by the BSNL Casual & Contract Workers Federation with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and also the Central Provident Fund Commissioner, New Delhi. The representatives gave detailed evidence before Parliamentary Standing Committee with full documents. The EPF Commissioner held meeting with the President BSNLCCWF and Officers of BSNL on this. Accordingly the EPF Commissioner (Central) issued a strong letter dated 22-04-2015 to BSNL asking them to implement EPF to casual labours w.e.f.01-10-2000 (the date of formation of BSNL) retrospectively. It was also directed that wherever, EPF is not implemented for contract workers, it should be implemented as per EPF Act.
Now today, 18-05-2015, the BSNL C.O. has issued the orders directing the CGMs to immediately take action for implementing EPF for casual labours w.e.f. 01-10-2000 and also implement EPF for contract workers, wherever it is not implemented so far. Not only the EPF contributions will be made by BSNL management, but interest also will have to be paid, which will benefit the workers. The EPF with retrospective effect from 2000 will benefit the existing 3469 casual labours.
The mammoth CMD Office March on 15th October 2014 and the Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 by the Casual & Contract Workers have not been in vain. At least one of the important demands has been settled.
It is a land mark victory for the casual and contract workers! Congratulations to all our comrades who stood strongly with the organisation and participated in the struggles!
17 Sunday May 2015
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
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On 16th May 2015, the Narendra Modi Government has completed one full year in office. Many articles and write ups are there in the newspapers and electronic media about the growth and development. But what are the facts?
I shall cite only one example. BSNL Contract workers in Varanasi, the constituency of Shri Narendra Mody, Prime Minister, is brutally exploited and denied of the minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc. The workers are paid around Rs. 1,500 – 3,000 only, whereas, as per the Labour Ministry orders and Minimum wage, he should get about Rs. 7,000. In Varanasi some of the workers are paid as low as only Rs.750.
BSNLCCWF has brought all these to the notice of the Labour Ministry, BSNL Management and even to the notice of the Prime Minister. But so far no relief and remedy.
Today, once again I am writing to the Prime Minister requesting to end this cruel exploitation and to ensure justice to these low paid workers.
14 Thursday May 2015
The Two Days dharna by Kerala Casual and Contract workers on their long pending demands which started yesterday concluded today. In all the district centres a number of comrades participated in the dharna/Satyagraha. BSNLEU leaders and other trade union leaders addressed and gave solidarity to the agitation.
CHQ BSNLCCWF congratulates Kerala Casual contract workers for their successful programme.
13 Wednesday May 2015
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
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The Kerala unit of the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation will organise 2 days dharna on 14th and 15th May on the justified demands of the Casual and contract workers. CHQ’s full support to the struggle.
08 Friday May 2015
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
I had thought that BSNL being a PSU and run by committed management, there will be not much exploitation of the casual and contract workers engaged in BSNL. I thought that the field management will be able to control the contractors and ensure minimum wage, EPF etc. to the contract workers.
But, unfortunately, this has not happened. In most of the circles, the contract workers are being paid very less than the minimum wage, some times even less than one third. Even after bringing these cases to the notice of the SSA management, neither action is taken against the contractor nor the latter is compelled to pay the minimum wages fixed by the labour Department and intimated by the CMD BSNL to the Circles/Districts.
And those leaders of the casual and Contract Workers Federation(BSNLCCWF), who are raising these issues are retrenched from work.
Is the BSNL management is hearing? Will they take any action?
02 Saturday May 2015
On May Day, Arvind Kejrival, Chief Minister, Delhi has declared that those contractors/employers who are denying minimum wage to the contract workers will be punished with jail term. The present punishment will made stringent with more period of jail term. He also stated that it will be strictly implemented. He stated that so far no employer was jailed for violating the minimum wage, but in future it will not be the case.
We appreciate the statement of the Chief Minister. But it should be followed by action.
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